.jpg) Pawson in 2014 | |||
| Full name | Craig Pawson | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Born | (1979-03-02)2 March 1979 (age 46)[1] Sheffield, England | ||
| Domestic | |||
| Years | League | Role | |
| ? | Football League | Assistant referee | |
| 2008–2013 | Football League | Referee | |
| 2013– | Premier League | Referee | |
| International | |||
| Years | League | Role | |
| 2015–2024 | FIFA listed | Referee | |
Craig Pawson (born 2 March 1979)[1] is an English professionalfootballreferee who officiates primarily in thePremier League, having been promoted to the panel ofSelect Group Referees in 2013, as well as inthe Football League.[2]
He is based inSouth Yorkshire and is associated with theSheffield & Hallamshire County Football Association.[3]
Pawson has been a referee since 1993 and regularly officiated in the Football League in the2012–13 season. He appeared 12 times in theChampionship as well as making aWembley appearance, taking charge of theLeague 2 play-off final betweenCrewe Alexandra andCheltenham Town, which saw the former promoted.
His first Premier League appointment came in March 2013 betweenSwansea City andNewcastle United at theLiberty Stadium with the home side winning 1–0.[4]
Pawson was appointed asfourth official for theFA Cup semi-final in April 2014 betweenWigan Athletic andArsenal at Wembley.[5]
In 2015 Pawson was put on theFIFA International Referees List[6] meaning that he can officiate in international fixtures, as well asUEFA Champions League andUEFA Europa League fixtures as either referee or an additional assistant referee. Pawson became the seventh referee from England on the list.
He was the fourth official for the2015 Football League Cup Final at Wembley, in whichChelsea defeatedTottenham Hotspur 2–0.[7]
Pawson was the fourth official for the2015 FA Cup Final betweenArsenal andAston Villa on 30 May.[8]
In May 2019 Pawson officiated theChampionship playoff semifinal betweenDerby County andLeeds United. This was considered an especially high-profile game after the Spygate affair earlier in the season for which Leeds were fined £200,000 and severely reprimanded by theEFL.[9] The game was controversial with Pawson awarding Derby a penalty in the second half, before reversing his decision on the advice of his assistant. Leeds went on to win the game 0–1.[10]
Pawson stepped down as a FIFA official at the end of December 2024.
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